Family and friends of a woman who died at the Boulder County jail on Friday are demanding answers about what led to the 29-year-old woman’s death after inmates claimed she was screaming for help long before she died.

Special to The Denver Post

Stephanie Anderson

Boulder officials have not released the identity of the woman, but friends and family identified her Tuesday as Stephanie Anderson, a mother of three from southwest Denver.

According to the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, deputies found the woman’s body during a routine welfare check at 3:55 p.m. Medical responders tried to resuscitate her for about 30 minutes before she was pronounced dead.

In a Tuesday news release, the sheriff’s office said the woman was taken to a hospital Thursday after complaining of feeling ill. She was examined by doctors then discharged, returning to the jail shortly before midnight, the sheriff’s office said. Specific details of the woman’s complaint “cannot be released at this time.” the news release said.

The coroner’s office has not determined the cause of death, and officials are awaiting toxicology results.

A friend who was arrested with Anderson has told friends and family that deputies ignored Anderson’s repeated requests for medical attention.

A second inmate has offered a similar account of events through her father, who spoke to The Denver Post on condition of anonymity. He said his daughter added that deputies mocked Anderson at one point, saying, “Officer no habla español” (“Officer does not speak Spanish”) and that the women in the jail pod who heard her calls for help were “shaken,” by the death. Friends and family say Anderson had a heart condition that was worsened when she was under stress.

“I know my friend was crying for help,” said Leann Garcia, a long-time friend of Anderson’s. “She was very loud, always. She let her presence be known.”

In a news release, sheriff’s office officials said allegations regarding the death were raised during a regularly scheduled business meeting Tuesday and that the sheriff was informed of this after the meeting.

Anderson had been to jail before. Court records show cases in Douglas, Arapahoe and Jefferson counties for various theft charges. Friends say she always was taken to the hospital during her previous jail stays.

Anderson’s common-law husband and father of her three boys, Tino Quintana, said he was told Anderson had refused medical treatment, but he said he doesn’t believe that.

“It doesn’t make sense,” Quintana said. “She freaked out when her heart hurt. I know she would never refuse.”

Anderson’s father, Larry Anderson, said he hasn’t had much information from jail officials. Anderson said he has reached out to jail officials but has not heard back.

“It seems they didn’t take care of her,” he said. “I was kind of pacing in the parking lot today thinking about it, but I guess I don’t know who to actually be upset with.”

Stephanie Anderson was unemployed and without a place to live. When she was arrested Thursday night, she was accused of shoplifting and was wanted for a warrant for failing to appear at another court hearing in Adams County.

“She did it because we’re struggling right now,” Quintana said. “We’re homeless, we just stayed with friends or my mom or wherever we can.”

Friends say Anderson kept her spirits high, despite her struggles while trying to keep her boys sheltered and fed.

“She was just full of life. She was always the one making everyone laugh,” Garcia said. “I feel like they didn’t do justice. They didn’t help my friend. I feel like they allowed her to die.”

Yesenia Robles was a breaking news reporter for The Denver Post, working with the organization from 2010-2016. She covered education, crime and courts, and the northern suburbs. Raised in Denver, she graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder and is a native Spanish speaker.